For the Birds and new catalog bookmark

Here is a simple and quick card I made to share with my friend who is doing a fundraiser.  She is receiving a lot of support and some great donations to help out so I thought she might want some thank yous to send out after the event.  I was so happy to see that this set For the Birds didn't retire.  The base is just some extra kraft card bases from the store.  I used the In Colors DSP (pool party and calypso coral stay but lucky limeade had to go).  I stamped the birds in the new in color Baked Brown Sugar.  I then colored them with my pool party marker and added highlights with the signo uni ball writer.

The next photo I want to share with you is what I include with the new catalog to my special customers.  I always like to share a sample of the new In Colors both the ink and the CS.  This bookmark is a great way to show those off as well as keep your place in the new catalog (there's space on the back for your wish list too).
Thanks for all your sweet comments on the mothers day cards.  I'm working on some nurse's day cards next so stay tuned.

Mother's Day

You know what they say....April showers bring May flowers.  With Mother's Day quickly approaching I have been working on 2 cards.  One is all flowers for my mom who is a master gardener and one for my husband's step mother who loves camping.
The flower card is using a technique I recently saw on Splitcoast stampers.  All you need is an open flower stamp set.  Heat emboss the image in white on kraft/crumb cake. Then use your aqua painter and SU white craft ink (either from the ink pad or a few drops from the refill bottle) to whitewash the petals.  Okay a moment of confession : I have had my white craft pad for nearly 10 years and until the other day I hated it.  It was always too juicy and took too long to dry and didn't emboss well.  Today I LOVE it.  I still use versamark and white EP to emboss but now I finally have a use for that pad which has come dangerously close to the trash many a time.
After that white wash layer has dried use your aqua painter and regular ink to color over the petals.  These flowers are from the retired a year or two ago set 5th Ave. Floral.
The cage is a Tim Holtz die cut out in Wisteria Wonder.  The bird is from kaiser craft.  I used SU pearls to doll up the cage and the labels framelits is used to cover up where I messed up and so I under mounted a piece of DSP with the sentiment embossed on it in early espresso EP.  A piece of ribbon and a retired everyday enchantment brads.

My next card was inspired by a Pin.  It was so cute I had to create a punch art version of a camper trailer.  I had a piece of Sycamore Street DSP on my desk and I thought it would be cute as the curtains so that set the color pallet.  I started with a square of calypso coral and with my ovals framelits and a pencil drew some lines to round off the shape.  The door and window are pool party.  I also used some vellum to help with the illusion of a window.  

A strip of silver paper with one end put into the modern label punch is the trailer/hitch.  The 1 1/4 inch circle punch makes the wheel well and the 1" and 3/4 " make the wheel.  the banner is made with the pennant punch (just the very tip)

The bottom is finished with a trip of lucky limeade CS, DSP and bakers twine.  I also used the cloudy day EF on the background piece.

I hope you enjoyed these cards and feel inspired to make your own garden of flowers or punch art.

The list is out!

Today is the day and since I'm 6 hours ahead of Central time I've had a wonderful morning looking over the retired list, marking my catalog, gasping, and a little crying over some sets that are leaving the current inventory.  Here is a link to the RETIRED list.  It is not in page number order but rather alphabetically.  You will notice in the accessories a LOT of changes including some very popular dies and punches.  But it makes room for the new.  As a demo I got to look at the new catalog today and I am so EXCITED.  Last year when I got a sneak peek I was lukewarm but liked the catalog once it was in my hands.  This time I'm in love with it before it is even in my hot little hands.
As a demo I can also order certain items ahead of time which I am so doing today.
Today's card is a birthday card for my DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) friend.  Two colors on the card are going and I am so sad to see Not Quite Navy and Riding Hood Red leave but like I said before it makes room for some new stuff.
Have a great day!

LEGO Birthday

I am knee deep in the world of LEGOs people.  My son has recently become a big fan and his BFF is totally into LEGO world also.  On our traveling agenda this summer is a trip to German Legoland.  So it is my son's BFF birthday party this Saturday (Samstag) and even though the gift inside is not LEGO I found the wrapping paper and went from there.
I've made other LEGO cards before and they are a safe bet for young boys.  Primary colors and basic shapes.  This one is basic grey, pacific point, real red, daffodil delight and garden green.  I used the 3/4" square punch and the standard size hand held hole punch.  I used 2-way glue to put the dots on and dimmensionals under each piece.
The package topper was a deal from a local store and used in place of a bow.
Thanks for stopping by to look.
Tomorrow is the release of the retired list and demos get a sneak peak at the new catalog....honestly I don't know if I will be able to sleep tonight...it's so exciting!

Friends helping friends

Hi...yes you...you over there....just take a second to count your blessings.  I hope among them is a great friend.  I can count on a few and one of those special friends is helping another friend.

My crafty friend in Omaha is hosting an event and I'm sending a donation to help raise some funds.

If you are close to Omaha (I'm jealous) and want to participate here is the website.

If anyone is trying to use my shop link we've figured out how it works :)  Just click on the shop 24 /7 and set up an account and when it asks if you have a demonstrator click "yes" and enter my last name Williamson in the demo finder and for state select AE (American forces in Europe).

I hope you will do one more thing.  If you're a prayerful person please add DeDra to your list.

Thanks and check back tomorrow for a really cute LEGO birthday card and gift wrap.

Cloudy day thank you

When I was at home in the States I was given 2 lovely Vera Bradley purses by my mom's neighbor.  She also got my son a cute Thomas book.  So to say thanks I made this card using my recently purchased Cloudy Day Embossing Folder (EF).  The base is made from Pool Party.  A layer of whisper white embossed and lucky limeade CS, DSP and ribbon.  I embossed the Curly Cute verse in white to make it stand out.  The kites are from a retired set Send me Soaring.  But it's not that hard to cut the shape and embellish.  Bakers twine for the strings and you're done!

Before making the card I spent about 30 to 45 minutes reorganizing my ink pads, markers and cardstock to go along with the new Color Refresh.  My marker collection was the most severely impacted....sigh but I'm SUPER excited for the 5 new in colors.  I can't believe that Pretty in Pink and Riding Hood Red are leaving the line up and I will also really miss Not Quite Navy and More Mustard.  I'm not ready to open my arms to crushed curry again but hey I'll drink the kool-Aid and go with the flow.
I have two more birthday cards this week so come back for another visit.  Don't forget Wednesday is the day SU will release the list of retiring stamp sets and accessories.  The accessories usually go fast so don''t be afraid to order those right away.
Have a great day!

Birthday package

Sorry it has been a while since my last post.  I spent 2 wonderful weeks over Easter to take my son back to the states for a visit/shopping trip.  It had been 8 months since I'd set foot in a Wal-Mart and boy was that sensory overload!  Of course I went to Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  I also went to Target and enjoyed lots of good food.  We even visited Leeland, Mississippi the birthplace of Kermit the Frog.
Today we went to a birthday party for our neighbors' little girl who is turning three.  I was low on girly paper and picked up a folded sheet at the BX I think it is from American Greetings.  I looked for some matching ribbon but didn't see anything that I liked.  I figured I'd just use my old standby-tulle.  But I had to do something more and I thought I might do something with my Flower Folds die and some felt.  After I wrapped the present I was headed for the felt when I saw my stash of fun foam...oh yeah...inspiration.
I also used the Fun Flowers die.  I stapled 2 layers together at a time and then connected everything with a super thick glue dot.

 Thanks for stopping by.  I have a couple of things to make tomorrow so stay tuned.  Only a few short more days until April 24th when the retiring list will be coming out.  I have had a sneak peek of the new In Colors and you will love them!
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